Running a Sub-2h45m Marathon
In 2024, I ran a sub 2h-50m maraton, and I ended that blog post with...
I want to run a sub 2h45 marathon in 2025
Well... I just did that last Sunday!!! It's crazy to think about it, because I had a very complicated year work-wise, and I didn't think I'd also be able achieve this personal goal. However, thanks to a lot of discipline, hard work, and support from my closed ones, I was able to have an incredible day in Valencia.
I ran 2 marathons this year:
- Berlin, in September
- Valencia, in December
I ran the Berlin marathon a bit slower than I had planned... 2h45m52sec. The weather was great, and my training had gone fine... But I think I was too stressed to achieve a good time. Also, I ran too much???? (As you can see below, I ran 42.70km which is a bit more than a marathon đ) Well, it just wasn't my day, to be fair.
Now, a few months later, and in a better mental state, I was indeed able to break the 2h45m mark, which I had set for myself for this year.
I just... couldn't be happier! I never thought this kind of effort would be possible for me, and with how much time I dedicate to work, this felt totally unreasonable. However, with enough discipline and support from my loved ones (especially my wife Margarida â¤ī¸), I got it done.
I also have to add that the treadmill played a huge role in this. Since I've been so stressed on time, I've mainly done my workouts on the treadmill, which absolutely sucks. However, it does present a number of advantages:
- Less injury-prone since there's less impact on each step when compared to concrete
- Allows me to drink fluids (water, electrolytes, etc.) more easily during the run
- Gets me ready for hot weather, since the gym is very warm
- Perfect control over paces, meaning there's no curves, no people, no elevation, no dogs đ, or kids running around...
- Easier for me to access in the building where I live (we have a tiny, tiny gym). This allows me to be very efficient with my time.
- I can easily change shoes between my warm-ups, intervals and cooldown which is great for avoiding injuries
- Catching up on Youtube while I run!
- Easier to use the restroom if needed...
- Doing a strength session with weigths is easier if I'm already in the gym! This is again great for injury prevention
- Easier to manage clothing
- (Usually) consistently available at hotel gyms, where I do a lot of my training these days
As I mentioned before, the treadmill is not pleasant, but for these last few cycles, it has helped me tremendously. So, I have to be thankful for it! Also, having flown 60+ flights this year, hotel gym treadmills have been really helpful.
For 2026, I don't think I'll have any time goals, since I am signed up for two extremely challening marathons, profile wise: Boston and New York. I think it might be a year for me to just enjoy those races and do whatever I can on the day. But I remain competitive, and looking forward to some other fitness challenges along the way. We'll see what I throw my hat in the ring for.